Rod-feeding device



y 28, 1929- E. o. MALCOLM 1,714,684

ROD FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 20, 1927 MWW /lllll/lllllll/llllllllllllBY (Z-(m WWW;

ATTORNEY Patented iii/lay 28, F329.

s'rres rats ELTON 0. MALCOLM, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, lASSliGFhTGR TOTHE EASTERN MACHINE SCREW COR?ORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

ROD-FEEDING DEVI-CE.

Application filed June2'0, 1927. Serial No. 200,001.

This invention relates to rod feeding'devices adapted for screw machinesand machines of like character, and it is specially adapted for feedingsmall rods or wire. Its construction and mode of operation will be morefully set forth in the following specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views Figure 1represents a full view of the assembled device operatively mounted on arod adapted to be fed,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the outer shell or feedcollet,

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of thefeed collet and a fullview of the ball carrier and rod,

Figure 4 is a detail view of the ball carrier,

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the feed collet,ball carrierand rod on line 5-5 of Figure 8,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, broken, longitudinal section of the feedcollet, ball carrier, and broken view of'the rod, and v Figure 7 is anenlarged central longitudinal section of the ball carrier.

The collet 1 has the threaded end 2 adapted to connect with supportingmechanism, not shown, and the threaded mouth 3 is adapted to be closedby the threaded cap l. The part 5 of the bore of the collet is straight,and a trifle larger in diameter than the rod 6 to serve as a rearcentral guiding means for the rod. The bore e of the cap t also servesas rod guiding means for the forward end of the collet. The rest of thecollets bore has the tapered wall ,7, which extends from the straightbore 5, as shown, to the threaded mouth However, that portionsurroundthe spring could, if desired, be made straight.

8 is a floating ball carrier having the three recesses 9 arranged aboutits periphery and in which are seated the balls 10. The open ings at thebottom of these recesses are preferably narrower than the balls, Figures6 and 7, to prevent their dropping into the bore 11 of the carrier whenthe rod is withdrawn from the collet. The number of these balls could beincreased, if desired.

While the tapered surface 8 of the carrier s snmlar to the tapered wall7 of the collet, it will be understood that at no time during the rodfeeding operation are these tapered surfaces brought into' grippingcontact with each other. It is only when the rod is entirely wlthdrawn,and the balls released, that they are brought into contact by the spring12. When the rod enters the carrier, one or more of the balls will liein the path of the rod, Fig- .ure 7, to form, with the spring, aresistance suflicicnt to enable the rod to push the carrier back farenough to unseat it and thus pernit the balls to have a gripping contactwith the tapered wall 7 and the rod. This grip will be sufficient toadvance the rod through the medium of the collet and carrier as a unit,or by holding the collet stationary and pushing the rod through thedevice the required distance and by the proper mechanism,

not shown. The carrier is maintained in a floating position between thespring and the gripping contact of theballs as long as the rod ismounted in the carrier so that, while the rod. is being pushed throughthe carrier,

the ball grip will be temporarily released, and,at the completion ofthis forward feed of the rod, the spring will instantly force back thecarrier to re-grip the balls to prevent a reverse movement or withdrawalof the rod.

As the rod cannot be withdrawn while under the grip of the balls, I haveprovided means for temporarily releasing the ball grip as follows 2 13is an elongated opening through the wall of the collet and directly overthe groove 14 of the carrier so that a nail, or other like means, canenter the groove and thus force back the carrier against the tension ofthe spring and hold it in that position long enough to permit thewithdrawal ofthe rod.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is A rod feeding deviceof the character-described, comprising a collet having a bore, a part ofwhich, at one end, is adapted as a guiding support for the rod, theremainder of the bore tapered, a cap for the mouth of the tapered borehaving a rod supporting bore, a

carrier having a bore for the rod and an external tapered surfacesimilar to the tapered tween the cap and carrier whereby the latter ismaintained in a floating position and out of contact with the taperedsurface of the collet l while the rod remains in the carrier.

In testlmony whereof I aflix'my signature.

, ELTON 0. MALCOLM. V

